A Florida state trooper was hospitalized and underwent surgery after he was shot by a suspect following a chase and shooting in Pasco County early Saturday morning, the Florida Highway Patrol confirmed to Fox News Digital.
One suspect was killed during the shooting and a second was detained, police said in a statement.
A trooper patrolling Interstate 75 initially stopped near what at first appeared to be two disabled vehicles shortly after 3 a.m., Florida Highway Patrol Director Gene Spaulding said at a news conference.
When the officer pulled over, the two suspects immediately fled north to Hernando County in one of the vehicles. Both vehicles were later found to have been stolen, FOX 13 reported.
2 STREET LOUIS POLICE OFFICERS, SUSPECT SHOT SHOT DURING CHASE AFTER ATTEMPTED TRAFFIC STOP
A Florida state trooper was shot in a shooting after a chase on Saturday.
(Florida Highway Patrol)
The suspects allegedly fired at the police officer while he was driving, hitting a tanker truck that was on the highway.
The driver turned around and began heading south on I-75 after reaching State Route 50, with two more police officers in pursuit.
FLORIDA MURDER SUSPECT ARRESTED FOR MISSING LYFT DRIVER’S CAR AFTER POLICE CHASE IN NORTH CAROLINA
The driver was eventually apprehended further south in Wesley Chapel, Florida, after one of the officers performed a PIT maneuver, Spaulding said.
The suspects then fled the vehicle in the direction of a wooded area and one was immediately apprehended, the Florida Highway Patrol said.
The Florida police officer was shot just below his bulletproof vest and “appears to be doing fine” after surgery, Florida Highway Patrol Director Gene Spaulding said.
(Florida Highway Patrol)
The other suspect pointed a gun at one of the police officers and allegedly shot him in the stomach. The soldier was airlifted to a Tampa hospital and was in stable condition after undergoing surgery, according to Spaulding.
The soldier was shot just below his bulletproof vest and “appears to be fine” after surgery, Spaulding said.
“He returned fire and the subject died at the scene,” Spaulding said, adding that no names were yet to be released.
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Charges against the suspect in custody are pending.
